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David Harnesk (photo Emilio José Bernard)

David Harnesk

Researcher

David Harnesk (photo Emilio José Bernard)

What kind of, and whose, sustainability counts? – Implications of EU’s Renewable Energy Directive in sub-Saharan Africa

Author

  • David Harnesk
  • Sara Brogaard

Summary, in English

The European Union (EU) plays a globally influential role in environmental legislation, with policies and regulation rooted in particular norms. Through a narrative on regulatory capitalism, ecological modernization, and diffusion, we trace how the promotion of renewable energy in transport through subsidies, mandatory targets, and prescriptive criteria for liquid biofuels, has impacts beyond the EU. The study identifies prevailing norms, mechanisms of decision making, and the network of actors involved in this regulatory regime, and how its expansion influences outcomes in Tanzania. Findings show how this regime emphasizes systematic eco-innovation of energy technologies, has an interchangeable approach to natural capital, and weighs social concerns as subordinate to economic efficiency. Through top-down diffusion via project developers, investors, and experts, the regime aggravates challenges in Tanzania as regards to policy, tenure and land-use, explored in three different settings. These relations are concluded as essential for climate change mitigation strategies in the EU.

Department/s

  • LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Document type

Conference paper: abstract

Topic

  • Other Earth and Related Environmental Sciences

Conference name

Biofuels and (ir)responsible innovation: tensions between policy, practice and sustainable development

Conference date

2015-04-13 - 2015-04-14

Conference place

Eindhoven, Netherlands

Status

Published

Project

  • The Renewable Energy Directive and Associated Sustainability Criteria – Sweden in a European and Global context